Madaya is a small mountainous town in Syria

Syria

Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....

, located at an altitude of 1,608 meters. It is a well known holiday resort. It is located about 40 km northwest of Damascus

Damascus

Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...

 in the Rif Dimashq Governorate and is home to Lake Barada. As it is 1400 meters above sea level, Madaya often is snow-top during the winter months especially on January and February.

Description

It is famous for its pure natural spring water, fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthy climate. Dry and cool in the summer, Madaya attracts wealthy Syrians many of which have summer mansions in the town. It also has a big market (souq) known for its European-made goods like sportswear and electronics which makes it quite an experience to visit.

History

Madaya's exact date of inhabiting is unclear, but the Roman style graves and artifacts present in the village's south-east hills are witnesses to its past. Some argue it goes back in time to the Aramaic era and is concurrent with the history of Damascus. Madaya was often a place where rebels against the mainstream governments took refuge. Armies relied on its people and rough terrain to achieve military advances. It's said that during the Islamic conquer of Syria, the army of Khalid Ibn Alwaleed relied on patrons from Madaya to guide the army en route to Ba'lbak after the fall of Homs and Damascus. And more recently, during the French mandate of Syria, rebels from Damascus and other places took refuge in the village and relied on the locals, whom in turn assumed great risks, for supplies and logistic support. Even to this day, the warrior nature of Madaya's citizens is still seen, and was often felt especially when tensions against the Syrian government surfaced in the 80s and in more recent times as well.

External links

• Map of location